The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Has someone in your school been touched by cancer?

The Youth Relay for Life Program is a Canadian Cancer Society initiative giving students an opportunity to join with their families and friends in celebrating cancer survivors, remembering loved ones touched by cancer and raising awareness about preventing and curing cancer. Schools are invited to host a Relay for Life event. It is a chance for staff and students to participate in fun activities and honour those who have survived cancer and/or who have died from cancer. It is also an educational opportunity to learn more about cancer, its early detection, screening and prevention. For information, visit www.cancer.ca/albertayouthrelay or contact Colin Edington. Telephone: 403-303-3519; e-mail: relayforlifeyouth@cancer.ab.ca.

ACT NOW to activate your specialist council membership

Active members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association are entitled to a complimentary membership in the specialist council of their choice. Teachers must activate their membership each year. To activate your membership, log in to TNET by clicking on the login link in the blue bar at the top of the Association’s web page, then follow the Specialist Council Membership link under Your ATA Tools.

Bring the world to your classroom

BRIDGES: Student Speakers for Global Awareness is a free educational program operated by University of Alberta International. The BRIDGES program, now in its 18th year, links the valuable resource pool of UofA international students from around the world with grade schools to enhance the prescribed curriculum or to broaden students’ horizons. Schools and communities receive firsthand perspectives on countries and global issues. The volunteers, who have come from around the world to study at the university, share their experience and knowledge of life in other cultures and countries. The program is relevant to the Alberta Social Studies curriculum and is also an excellent resource for second language classes, food studies, religious studies and other programs. For information, contact BRIDGES by e-mail: Bridges@international.ualberta.ca.

Ignite change now

A new teaching resource for Alberta high school social studies gives students opportunities to explore active citizenship and to take action. The resource Ignite Change Now—Youth Action Toolkit is free to teachers through the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. The resource features a 10-lesson unit plan, a video and a toolkit for planning and implementing activities. The resource helps teachers and students move from ideas about citizenship to real engagement in such activities as volunteering, fund-raising, promoting issues and influencing positive change. For more information about this resource or programs offered by the Centre, contact the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, 7723-85 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6C 3B4. Telephone: 780-453-2638; fax: 780-454-1519; e-mail: info@jhcentre.org; Facebook: John Humphrey Centre; website: www.johnhumphreycentre.org.

ATA workshops only $100!

ATA workshop fees are only $100 per workshop. For information, visit the Alberta Teachers’ Association website (www.teachers.ab.ca) and under the heading Professional Development, click on Workshops, Courses and Presentations to obtain information. Book a workshop by contacting Barnett House, in Edmonton. Telephone: 780-447-9417 (in Edmonton and area) or call toll-free in Alberta at 1-800-232-7208 or by e-mail at pdworkshops@ata.ab.ca. Please book workshops six weeks in advance.

Make your school safe and caring

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage home, school and community practices that teach, model and reinforce socially responsible and respectful behaviours so that living and learning can take place in a safe, caring and inclusive environment. Achieving this mission requires the involvement not only of parents, teachers, and children but of all the important adults in children’s lives.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association participates in the society through its Healthy Interactions program. More information about SACSC and the programs it offers is available on the SASCS website (www.sacsc.ca).

Media literacy course offered online

The Communications Studies Program at Athabasca University is offering a course entitled Understanding Media Literacy: Inside Plato’s Cave. Registration for individualized online study is now open and ongoing—sign up by the 10th of any month and start the following month. Participants have six months to complete the course (extensions are available). More information is available at www.athabascau.ca/platoscave.